Abstract

Magneto-optical Kerr effectmeasurements were used to perform magnetic aftereffect studies of the reversal behavior in a bimodal magneto-optical medium with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. This multilayer film has shown both the Kerr rotation and ellipticity to exhibit major hysteresis loops with two distinct field-dependent steps. However, whereas both steps in the loop occur in the same direction, in the loop they occur in opposite directions. Thus, upon traversing the descending major loop, at the first magnetic reversal, increases even though the magnetization decreases. Magnetic aftereffect in this material was investigated in the vicinity of each magnetization step by measuring both and over time. The data clearly show the time dependence of each of the two separate reversals, including the changes in which occur in opposite directions.